Labour Councils Told to End Green Party Agreements Over Zionism Policy 2026

Labour councils across the UK have been instructed to end agreements with Green Party partners who do not condemn the party's new 'Zionism is racism' policy. The directive, issued by Labour chair Bridget Phillipson, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute over the controversial motion adopted at the Green Party conference earlier this month.

Labour's Ultimatum to Green Councils

Bridget Phillipson stated that local Green groups working with Labour in local government must 'make clear that they reject this position and to call on their national leadership to reconsider' the policy. She added that Labour has asked local Green groups to respond as a matter of urgency, and that agreements would be terminated if they fail to comply.

This move follows comments from Andy Burnham, who ruled out any Labour partnership with the Greens. During prime minister's questions, Burnham declared the motion 'wrong' and 'antisemitic', stating that Labour would not 'support a partnership with a party that holds [the] position that has recently been adopted'.

What the Green Party Policy Says

The policy, adopted at the Green Party conference in Brighton, equates Zionism—the movement for a Jewish state—with racism. It also rejects a two-state solution and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state 'with equal rights for all'. Critics argue that this stance is antisemitic and undermines the legitimacy of Israel.

The motion has sparked a fierce debate within UK politics, with Labour taking a firm stance against it. The party's leadership has made it clear that any collaboration with the Greens at the local level is contingent on their rejection of this policy. The background to this story is set out in Andy Burnham Appoints Bridget Phillipson as Labour Party Chair. A related thread runs through Green Party Zionism Racism Motion Sparks Fierce Debate. Earlier coverage in Green Party Adopts Controversial Policy Equating Zionism with Racism shows how the argument developed.

Implications for Local Government

Labour councils that share power with the Greens now face a difficult decision: either pressure their Green partners to condemn the policy or terminate existing agreements. This could lead to the collapse of coalition administrations in several councils, potentially triggering new elections or minority rule. A closer look at the same subject appears in Bridget Phillipson Appointed Labour Party Chair by Andy Burnham. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Green Party Anti-Zionism Motion Threatens Jewish Identity. The same theme surfaces in Green Politics Future: Beyond the Green Party for Climate Action, which takes a different angle.

The directive from Labour's national leadership underscores the party's zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism and its determination to distance itself from the Greens' controversial position. It also highlights the growing rift between the two parties, which have historically cooperated on various local issues. Context on how this played out before sits in Bridget Phillipson Fights On After Cabinet Demotion. A companion piece, UK Politics: Bridget Phillipson Warns Racism and Misogyny Normalised, approaches the same subject from another angle.

Key Takeaways

• Labour councils must end agreements with Green partners who do not condemn the 'Zionism is racism' policy.
• The policy, adopted at the Green Party conference, equates Zionism with racism and rejects a two-state solution.
• Andy Burnham labelled the motion 'antisemitic' and ruled out any Labour-Green partnership.
• Local Green groups are asked to reject the policy and call on their national leadership to reconsider.
• Failure to comply could result in the termination of power-sharing agreements.

Comparing Labour and Green Positions

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